By Emma Turney

Standing in her own studio on Tremont Street, 43-year-old Cassandra Foster is going on her fifth year of making yoga her full-time career. In January, Foster opened Mission Hill Yoga to tap into a population in Boston that has yet to receive a neighborhood yoga studio. That’s unique among Boston neighborhoods. “Like Starbucks, every corner has a yoga studio now,” she said.

Foster feels positive about the direction Mission Hill is heading in. Although she lives in Hyde Park, she is one of the many new business owners catering toward a younger community.

“I like the diversity of Mission Hill, from age to race to everything. It’s a little more diverse in this area versus certain neighborhoods,” said Foster.

She does understand why long-time residents may be hesitant to new changes.

“[Mission Hill] is growing and adapting to who’s living here. A lot of residents are nurses and doctors that have to be close by to Brigham [and Women’s] or [Boston] Children’s [hospitals]. I think that’s a big part of the community as well: young professionals.”

Although Mission Hill Yoga mainly does cater toward these young professionals, they offer a more affordable weekly class to make the studio an inclusive space. Foster is striving to make yoga a way people can escape from their day-to-day lives.

“We’re creating a place where anyone could be exactly who they are. They don’t have to be who their supposed to be at work or school or those boxes that we put ourselves in all the time. We can actually just be our authentic self.”

About this project 

The Scope’s student journalists spoke with community members in Mission Hill. #MissionHill100 is a collection of their stories.